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Yale University


Doubling down on Schrödinger's cat

A team of Yale scientists has created a more exotic type of Schrödinger's cat-like state that can exist in two boxes simultaneously, leveraging entanglement to enable error correction and logical operations in quantum computing. This breakthrough builds upon decades of development in circuit quantum electrodynamics.

SourceYale University·JournalScience·DateMay 26, 2016

Chasing after a prehistoric Kite Runner

Researchers from Yale, Oxford, and Imperial College London describe a new species of ancient arthropod that carried its young in capsules tethered to its body. The creature, named Aquilonifer spinosus, lived about 430 million years ago and had unique brooding strategies to protect its eggs and embryos from predators.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 4, 2016

Dissecting the animal diet, past and present

The study highlights the importance of time context in diet reconstructions, which can lead to conflicting results. By considering different time scales for dietary proxies, scientists can gain a more accurate understanding of an animal's eating habits.

SourceYale University·JournalEcology and Evolution·DateMar 18, 2016

School breakfasts contribute to healthy weight, study finds

A new study published in Pediatric Obesity found that eating a second breakfast at school is associated with healthier weights and reduced risk of obesity among middle school students. The study, which tracked 584 students over two years, found that students who ate double breakfasts were less likely to be overweight or obese compared ...

SourceYale University·JournalPediatric Obesity·DateMar 17, 2016

Solving the mystery of the Tully Monster

A Yale-led team of paleontologists has determined that the Tully Monster, a 300-million-year-old animal with teeth at the end of a narrow head extension and eyes on either side of a long bar, was a vertebrate with gills and a notochord. The discovery sheds light on the creature's likely predatory lifestyle.

SourceYale University·JournalNature·DateMar 16, 2016

Study finds racial differences in smoking patterns, screening

New research reveals that African Americans are less likely to start smoking in late teens but continue smoking into later years, leading to lower average pack-years and reduced eligibility for lung cancer screening. This disparity results in higher risk of death from tobacco-related diseases among African Americans.

SourceYale University·JournalNicotine & Tobacco Research·DateMar 15, 2016

Sugar rush shrinks brain cell powerhouse

Researchers found that mitochondria in brain cells rapidly change shape and function in response to high blood sugar levels, affecting peripheral tissue functions. The study suggests that alterations in this mechanism may be crucial for type 2 diabetes development.

SourceYale University·JournalCell·DateFeb 25, 2016

Zika virus linked to stillbirth, other symptoms in Brazil

A Brazilian woman infected with Zika virus had a stillborn baby with severe tissue swelling and central nervous system defects, suggesting the virus may cause damage outside the CNS. The case raises concerns about the risk of stillbirths and other adverse outcomes in pregnant women exposed to the virus.

SourceYale University·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateFeb 25, 2016

VA and non-VA hospitals similar in quality, study shows

A Yale University study found VA hospitals to have slightly lower mortality rates among older men with specific conditions, but higher readmission rates compared to non-VA hospitals. The differences were small, indicating that the VA healthcare system is doing comparatively well for these vulnerable patient groups

SourceYale University·JournalJAMA·DateFeb 18, 2016

In autism, the social benefits of being a girl

A Yale University study found that infant girls at risk for autism exhibit better social attention and observational skills than boys, which may help prevent or mitigate the severity of autism symptoms in high-risk females.

SourceYale University·JournalJournal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry·DateFeb 9, 2016

Yale study examines evolution of cancer

A Yale study applying evolutionary biology tools sheds light on cancer's genetic origins and tumor progression. The research mapped genetic mutations in normal, primary, and metastatic tumor tissue, revealing that metastases originate from different paths within primary tumors and can diverge early in cancer history.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 8, 2016

Yale team deciphers sugar's siren song

Researchers found that the brain prioritizes calorie intake over taste quality when it comes to sugary foods. The study suggests that the brain has two separate pathways for processing sweetness and energy signals, with calorie-rich foods dominating our desire for sweets.

SourceYale University·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateJan 25, 2016

A new model emerges for monsoons in a changing global climate

A new study suggests that continent-scale monsoons will adapt gradually to climate change, with changes in land use and greenhouse gas concentrations prompting adjustments in massive air circulations. Despite predictions of a sudden shift, the researchers argue that monsoon rainfall will change smoothly over time.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 25, 2016

Life-extending hormone bolsters the body's immune function

A Yale University study found that the hormone FGF21 protects against age-related loss of immune function by promoting T cell production. Increasing FGF21 levels may be an additional strategy to bolster immune function in the elderly or cancer patients undergoing bone marrow transplantation.

SourceYale University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 11, 2016

Closing the dyslexia achievement gap

Researchers at Yale University found that a large achievement gap between dyslexic and typical readers is already present in first grade. Early screening and reading interventions can help close this gap by implementing programs as early as kindergarten.

SourceYale University·JournalThe Journal of Pediatrics·DateNov 3, 2015

The world's nitrogen fixation, explained

Yale University scientists have designed a new chemical compound that mimics the properties of nitrogenase, an enzyme responsible for natural nitrogen fixation. The findings could lead to the development of synthetic catalysts that turn nitrogen into ammonia, reducing transportation and production costs.

SourceYale University·JournalNature·DateSep 23, 2015